Local Librarian Gets Tattoo to Support Cancer Research

Bel Air, MD August 15, 2004 -- Local business librarian, Lara Perrault is thirty-three. Well past the age that most people acquire their first tattoo. However, while attending a recent Pancreatic Cancer conference, a group of nine women ranging in age from thirty to sixty decided to get tattoos.

Lara lost her mother in January to Pancreatic Cancer. "It has been just devastating. My mother was sixty-four years old, the picture of health and recently retired. We took her to the emergency room for what we thought was gallbladder pain. They diagnosed her with Pancreatic Cancer and five weeks later she passed away."

Pancreatic Cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths. It has a 99% mortality rate and the average lifespan after diagnosis is just three to six months. Every year 32,000 people will be diagnosed with it and 31,000 people will die. However, it recieves just .6 of 1% of the National Cancer Institutes funding for cancer research.

"I had never even heard of Pancreatic Cancer until my mother was diagnosed. The doctors told us there was no treatment available and that my mother would die. It was amazing to me that in this day and age nothing could be done." said Perrault.

After, her mother passed away, Lara decided to turn her grief into action to help raise awareness and get research funding for this devastating disease. She is volunteering with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to form an affiliate for Northern Maryland. She will be hosting a "People and Pooches for Pancan" walk on October 23rd, to raise awareness and research money for this disease.

While attending a training conference for Pancan's volunteers, Lara and eight other women decided to get the purple Pancreatic Cancer Ribbon tattooed on their bodies.

"I never thought I would have a tattoo." said Perrault. "I decided to get one to raise awareness of this devastating disease." Ms. Perrault's tattoo is on her ankle. It is the Purple Pancreatic Cancer Ribbon, with an angel.

"This was very out of character for me, but I'm so happy to have done it. When people ask me about it I have a chance to talk to them about Pancreatic Cancer and what they can do to help."

If you would like more information on the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, please visit their website at http://www.pancan.org

Contact:
Lara M Perrault
75 Nicholas Alexander Dr.
Port Deposit, MD 21904
Phone- 410-378-5887
http://www.pancan.org
pancan@crpaws.com





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